At home on the road: Here are the parks and cities Pirates players enjoy visiting the most

Pirates celebrate Military Appreciation Day at LECOM Park

The Pittsburgh Pirates honored America's military branches prior to Thursday's home game with the Detroit Tigers at Bradenton's LECOM Park.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates honored America's military branches prior to Thursday's home game with the Detroit Tigers at Bradenton's LECOM Park.

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Bradenton

Ivan Nova grew up idolizing his Dominican Republic countrymen. When it was his turn to make it in professional baseball, Nova started in America’s biggest market: New York City.

Playing with the Yankees, Nova developed a liking for a big city.

That’s why the current Pittsburgh pitcher, who the Pirates named their opening day starter on Wednesday, said one of his favorite road cities to visit during the Major League Baseball season is Chicago.

His Dominican roots, though, also show when picking West Coast cities and parks such as Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego.

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Pittsburgh Pirates veteran Sean Rodriguez has a laugh during Thursday’s game as against the Detroit Tigers at LECOM Park in Bradenton.

Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com

“Stadium-wise, you always love to go to Anaheim,” said Nova, whose Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 8-3 on Thursday in Grapefruit League action at LECOM Park.

“It’s a pretty stadium. Good ballpark. The atmosphere is different than some other places. ... The weather (in Anaheim, L.A. and San Diego) feels like Santo Domingo (in the Dominican Republic). You feel like the weather is always the same like when you were back home in the D.R.”

In addition to Nova, several other Pirates talked to the Bradenton Herald about their favorite road parks and which road cities they enjoy visiting the most during a 162-game season.

One caveat is if players grew up in a big-league city, they couldn’t choose it or that team’s park.

The weather in San Diego is unbelievable. You can walk to the field.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Corey Dickerson, on his favorite road city

Like Nova, Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison said they love Chicago.

“Granted, you play quite a few day games,” Harrison said. “But that seems to be a trip that a lot of guys’ wives or families come. So it’s a little bit of a switch to be able to have dinner as a family. To get done with the game at 4, 4:30, get back to the hotel, you can still catch a nice dinner at 7:30 as opposed to the family being at the ballpark at 7.”

The Pirates’ Josh Harrison gets his swings in as he prepares for the March 29 season opener against the Detroit Tigers.

Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com

Mercer added: “There’s just so much to do. And baseball-wise, Wrigley Field is awesome. ... I saw it on both sides. When they were not very good, not a lot of people showed up. Now when they’re really, really good, the place is packed, jammed down. It’s just totally a baseball atmosphere.”

Park-wise?

Harrison holds Citi Field, home to the New York Mets, close in his heart. It’s where Harrison made his MLB debut in 2011.